Karnataka - Mangalore   

Land for dargah opposed

Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE: Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Mangalore City Corporation on Monday opposed the handing over of 10 cents of land to a dargah at Light House Hill Road, which was condemned by the Congress councillors.

Congress councillors demanded that the land be handed over to the dargah committee as it wanted to fix interlocking pavement in the area for Muslims to offer Namaz. The demand was supported by the former Mayors Hilda Alva and K. Diwakar; the Chief Whip of the ruling party, Mahabala Maarla; the Chairman of the Health Committee, Kamalaksha Kundar; and James D'Souza, corporator. But even before the Mayor, Purandaradasa Kulur, could make an announcement, BJP members opposed the demand and said the place is already congested as there is an educational institution, a bus stand, a public library and a tempo and taxi stand in the vicinity. All these facilities need land for future expansion, they said and added that the place the dargah committee has requested is prime land. "The corporation cannot part with it."

Shankar Bhat, councillor, said the dargah already has adequate land for Muslims to offer prayers. Corporators including Mohammad Nawaz, Abdul Rauf and Farooq wanted the speech of Mr. Bhat expunged from the records Bedlam reigned with the corporators calling names on the floor of the council. When the corporators finally calmed down, the Mayor said he will study the proposal for land and do the needful at the right time.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

BJP members stage rail roko
Here, students have everything but textbooks
Three held in Mangalore, revolver seized
MCC ready for monsoon works
Land for dargah opposed
CET pre-counselling session on Friday
CET results on Reliance phones
In Mangalore Today

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu